It seems to be the trend to have really mad lighting and moving backgrouds on these shows. Some of the acts have been lost in the lights. Then the random camera angles, I end up missing half the act. This is extra bad if there is a group eg. the circus type acts, or a dance group. Wish I could choose the view - I would have just straight in front, as the judges can see it as they have the best seats.
Crazy lighting and camera angles.
Originally Posted by valskey:
“It seems to be the trend to have really mad lighting and moving backgrouds on these shows. Some of the acts have been lost in the lights. Then the random camera angles, I end up missing half the act. This is extra bad if there is a group eg. the circus type acts, or a dance group. Wish I could choose the view - I would have just straight in front, as the judges can see it as they have the best seats.”
“It seems to be the trend to have really mad lighting and moving backgrouds on these shows. Some of the acts have been lost in the lights. Then the random camera angles, I end up missing half the act. This is extra bad if there is a group eg. the circus type acts, or a dance group. Wish I could choose the view - I would have just straight in front, as the judges can see it as they have the best seats.”
I completely agree. They seem to be trying to make the show look the way it would if it had been pre-recorded from various camera angles, etc. and then edited. If you have recordings from all the cameras you can edit together a mix that shows everything to its best advantage without missing anything. Trying to do this live is doomed to failure unless there have been many many rehearsals.
To me, the camera work has been unfair to several of the acts. It has further undermined the concept of the show as a fairly conducted contest.
Originally Posted by PeterWD:
“I completely agree. They seem to be trying to make the show look the way it would if it had been pre-recorded from various camera angles, etc. and then edited. If you have recordings from all the cameras you can edit together a mix that shows everything to its best advantage without missing anything. Trying to do this live is doomed to failure unless there have been many many rehearsals.
To me, the camera work has been unfair to several of the acts. It has further undermined the concept of the show as a fairly conducted contest.”
“I completely agree. They seem to be trying to make the show look the way it would if it had been pre-recorded from various camera angles, etc. and then edited. If you have recordings from all the cameras you can edit together a mix that shows everything to its best advantage without missing anything. Trying to do this live is doomed to failure unless there have been many many rehearsals.
To me, the camera work has been unfair to several of the acts. It has further undermined the concept of the show as a fairly conducted contest.”
Shockingly, I do believe the camera work is rehearsed.
Originally Posted by Aaron_Scotland:
“Shockingly, I do believe the camera work is rehearsed.”
“Shockingly, I do believe the camera work is rehearsed.
”
It is obviously rehearsed, but not pre-recorded.
They want to make it as real as possible for views.
Originally Posted by Hassaan13:
“It is obviously rehearsed, but not pre-recorded.
They want to make it as real as possible for views.”
“It is obviously rehearsed, but not pre-recorded.
They want to make it as real as possible for views.”
It's certainly real.. If your seated at the very back of the studio!
I meant viewers.
Then again, you have to have very good eyesight to have been able to see the acts from a good view from the back of the studio.
But the viewers at home are willing to see a performance from different angles, like 360 degrees?
Then again, you have to have very good eyesight to have been able to see the acts from a good view from the back of the studio.
But the viewers at home are willing to see a performance from different angles, like 360 degrees?
I think people have been over-estimating the competance of the production team behind BGT.
I think they just aren't very good at their job, at every level.
On the subject of camera work, during the JLS/Diversity thing they cut to a very wide shot just as the "small one" did a multiple flip towards the audience. You could barely see it.
I think they just aren't very good at their job, at every level.
On the subject of camera work, during the JLS/Diversity thing they cut to a very wide shot just as the "small one" did a multiple flip towards the audience. You could barely see it.
Originally Posted by Aaron_Scotland:
“Shockingly, I do believe the camera work is rehearsed.”
“Shockingly, I do believe the camera work is rehearsed.
”
Yes. This discussion reminds me of something said many decades ago by a BBC producer of radio dramas (before TV). He was Val Gielgud. He used background music in radio plays to set the mood. He said something like "if the listener notices the music it has failed". The music should set the mood without drawing attention to itself.
It's the same with camera work and lighting. If it is done right it seems natural and unnoticeable. If it is overdone it is a serious distraction.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Val_Gielgud
I could make out very little of Abyss. The illuminous suits looked like they'd create a really good effect but it was lost in the huge backscreen video & flashing lights coming from the back.
Camera work has always been an issue. They should have a camera in the judges' desk so we see what they see & just have that one set shot for the dance acts.
Too many spectacular moves have been ruined by shoddy direction & camerawork. Also they should stop showing the judges' or audience's reaction whilst the act is going on.
It's not just BGT. It's ITV in general. On their football coverage they always show random close ups of someone with their head in their hands, on the bench or even the manager whilst play is still going on so they often miss exciting talking points. They even conducted an interview with a substitute in a recent match.
It infuriates me!
Camera work has always been an issue. They should have a camera in the judges' desk so we see what they see & just have that one set shot for the dance acts.
Too many spectacular moves have been ruined by shoddy direction & camerawork. Also they should stop showing the judges' or audience's reaction whilst the act is going on.
It's not just BGT. It's ITV in general. On their football coverage they always show random close ups of someone with their head in their hands, on the bench or even the manager whilst play is still going on so they often miss exciting talking points. They even conducted an interview with a substitute in a recent match.
It infuriates me!
the camera work for Michael's performance last night was awful ... they kept filming from above or far away so you missed half of his moves
Have to agree the camera angles are so over the top the distance shot when the action is going on I can barely see whats happeening and i am lucky enough to have HD...so what people are going through with SD i havent a clue.....
also the production on some of the perfomances is very poor too .....Circus of horrors for one example.....they were all on floor on one level (apart from the ones on the wires) u couldnt see what the back artists where doing.....all they needed to do is raise the ones up on the back to a second level.....i guess may have been a problem if they were quick changing sets but.....
another major gripe of mine in constantly cutting to the faces of the judges thus u miss half the performances....why not have their faces in a box to bottom left or right of screen?
also the production on some of the perfomances is very poor too .....Circus of horrors for one example.....they were all on floor on one level (apart from the ones on the wires) u couldnt see what the back artists where doing.....all they needed to do is raise the ones up on the back to a second level.....i guess may have been a problem if they were quick changing sets but.....
another major gripe of mine in constantly cutting to the faces of the judges thus u miss half the performances....why not have their faces in a box to bottom left or right of screen?
Originally Posted by Tassium:
“I think people have been over-estimating the competance of the production team behind BGT.
I think they just aren't very good at their job, at every level.
On the subject of camera work, during the JLS/Diversity thing they cut to a very wide shot just as the "small one" did a multiple flip towards the audience. You could barely see it.”
“I think people have been over-estimating the competance of the production team behind BGT.
I think they just aren't very good at their job, at every level.
On the subject of camera work, during the JLS/Diversity thing they cut to a very wide shot just as the "small one" did a multiple flip towards the audience. You could barely see it.”
It is terrible, really awful. Very bad direction. i dont care about singing acts, you can still hear the music but dance acts -whats the point? Watch a Diversity routine,for example, it's meant to be viewed from the front - watching in from far, the top, the sides loose the effect of the sequences. Absolute rubbish and its the same every year.
Last night Diversity vs JLS was terrible. Bad lighting I could barely make out what was happening at some points and then long shots just as something exciting was happening.
Also I do go with the theory that camerawork can hinder the chances of the act, and I think the production are fully aware of this -they'd be fools not to know that.
Last night michael moral had no chance because of the cameras. Worst i've ever seen and from my hd tv, i could hardly see his moves. Set up? Possibly yes.
If you add it all up the production on BGT is very poor.
I don't think they have selected a right balance of talent/tat to present to the judges in the heats, the camera work is poor and the performances are poorly staged.
I wonder if they have some new producers running things?
I don't think they have selected a right balance of talent/tat to present to the judges in the heats, the camera work is poor and the performances are poorly staged.
I wonder if they have some new producers running things?
I agree with the OP. The directing on this series is shockingly bad. Acts like cyclist, the Irish desk dancers and the hoola girl have all been so badly shot and cut you couldn't see what they were doing. It's like it's directed by a computer that just changes the shot every 3 seconds irrespective of what's happening on stage. Many of the shots are from do far away you can't even see the act. And there is far too much time spent showing the judges watching, so we miss even more.
Originally Posted by Mariesam:
“another major gripe of mine in constantly cutting to the faces of the judges thus u miss half the performances....why not have their faces in a box to bottom left or right of screen?”
“another major gripe of mine in constantly cutting to the faces of the judges thus u miss half the performances....why not have their faces in a box to bottom left or right of screen?”
I agree .. it doesn't matter that much for the singing acts but it totally ruins the more performance based acts
